SOCIOLOGY 1010

BELOW IS MY POWER POINT FOR A PRESENTATION I DID ON GOVERMENT AND POLICES

BELOW IS A PAPER I WROTE ON GOVERMENT AND POLITICS

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A Beginner's Guide to the Rx Drug Ab

Dan DavidsonSOC 10101/2/2016Addiction and Opioid EpidemicPrescription Painkillers from Dr.” s has become a huge epidemic that has transition into a huge heroin epidemic across the nation. I have personally witnessed a huge problem here in Utah. I have not only witnessed it but have experienced the dilemma personally. Due to an injury I was given pain killers for several months. When I was taken off the pill and found I could not function, I found a Dr. that would put me on a pain management plan for chronic pain. Getting 150 oxeyes a month for over a year, then one day because I was behind on a payment the Dr. would not let me see the Dr. Not being able to get my script filled, I got deadly sick and could not function. I was introduced to a very cheap street drug very easy to get Heroin. I spent the next several years strung out on Heroin.Utah is actually no 4 highest in rank for opioid deaths in the nation Channel 4 news says “Nguyen, Jason. "Utah Ranks 4th in Overdose Deaths." GOOD4UTAH. N.p., 2014. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.”So many people have had an injury get on a script and get addicted. When the script runs out, individuals buy pills from the streets. Price for prescriptions on the streets are so high. I have seen some pills reach the price of sixty dollars each. A person can get heroin so much cheaper that, that is where most Individuals end up. Buy heroin on the streets is so easy and so assessable.The articles I have referenced all share the same common thread that prescription have become an epidemic. They have created a problem for many that has turned to a heroin addiction. The articles also shar the common thread that the death toll from opioids has risen and continues to rise.Article from Health Day in 2016 says that ’Abuse of powerful prescription painkillers called opioids costs the U.S. economy $78.5 billion a year, according to a new government study’. "More than 40 Americans die each day from overdoses involving prescription opioids. Families and communities continue to be devastated by the epidemic of prescription opioid overdoses," said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. "The rising cost of the epidemic is also a tremendous burden for the health care system." opioid abuse in 2013. Total spending for health care and substance abuse topped $28 billion. Insurance covered most of it, the study found State and local governments shouldered most of the $7.7 billion in criminal justice-related costs. They also lost tax revenue because productivity slipped, the study showed. The researchers reported that nearly 2 million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids in 2013.National Institution of Drug Abuse Says he abuse of and addiction to opioids such as heroin, morphine, and prescription pain relievers is a serious global problem that affects the health, social, and economic welfare of all societies. It is estimated that between 26.4 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide,[1] with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers.To address the complex problem of prescription opioid and heroin abuse in this country, we must recognize and consider the special character of this phenomenon, for we are asked not only to confront the negative and growing impact of opioid abuse on health and mortality, but also to preserve the fundamental role played by prescription opioid pain relievers in healing and reducing human suffering. That is, scientific insight must strike the right balance between providing maximum relief from suffering while minimizing associated risks and adverse effects. We are seeing an increase in the number of people who are dying from overdoses, predominantly after abuse of prescribed opioid analgesics. This disturbing trend appears to be associated with a growing number of prescriptions in and diversion from the legal market.CDC says “Heroin use has increased across the US among men and women, most age groups, and all income levels. Some of the greatest increases occurred in demographic groups with historically low rates of heroin use: women, the privately insured, and people with higher incomes. Not only are people using heroin, they are also abusing multiple other substances, especially cocaine and prescription opioid painkillers. As heroin use has increased, so have heroin-related overdose deaths. Between 2002 and 2013, the rate of heroin-related overdose deaths nearly quadrupled, and more than 8,200 people died in 2013. States play a central role in prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for this growing epidemic.?CNN Talks about the long history of Opiates from the early 1900’s to the current time and the progressing of the problems with addiction. As well as the Epidemic from prescription pills to illegal use of heroin. CNN says "Most people that I know don't use OxyContin to get high anymore," one opioid user said in the study. "They have moved on to heroin [because] it is easier to use, much cheaper and easily available

The Guardian talks about how the crackdown on Americans painkiller capital led to a heroin epidemic. When prescriptions run out, or a Dr. will no longer prescribe anymore individuals attempted to buy them on the streets. The article talks about the problems of the price of pills on the streets and tells personal stories of individuals turning to heroin, The Guardian said “The pills were hard to get. They got to be very expensive. Heroin is cheap,” said Fata, 24. “Almost everyone that I was close to, anybody that was doing pills with me, typically they would at least get to the point where pills were not an option. You were either snorting heroin or shooting heroin.”

Government agencies are cracking down and working towards limiting the Doctors on the level of how and how much painkillers they can prescribe, Fox News Says “Prescriptions painkillers should not be a first choice for treating common ailments like back pain and arthritis according to new federal guidelines designed to reshape how doctors prescribe drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin.”

Utah Naloxone is an organization created by Dr. Jenn Plumb and her brother Sam Plumb. These two have fought and advocated to legalize Naloxone. Naloxone is a drug that is administrated to people that have over dose from Opioids. Utah Naloxone Says The substances most responsible for poisoning deaths come from opioid medications including morphine, methadone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, oxycodone, and from heroin. Opioid overdose is reversible through the timely administration of the drug naloxone (Narcan®) and the provision of emergency care ‘I personally know ow and have gotten to work with both Dr. Plumb and her brother Sam, they are amazing people and are saving lives every day.Another organization that I know of, and am part of is U.S.A.R.A. (Utah Support Advocates of Recovery Awareness) There mission is “USARA's mission is to celebrate, advocate, support, and educate on behalf of drug and/or alcohol addiction recovery and Utah's recovery community.”“A Recovery Community Center (RCC) is a resource for skill-building education, information, support and socialization for those in recovery and their loved ones. It makes real the belief that recovery from addictive disorders is possible.”U.S.A.R.A has several support groups for individuals with addiction and family support as well. We are huge advocates in the community. Speaking with Legislative and working on different Committees to help change laws and policies that effect individuals working on long-term recovery. We also provide a couple different programs.“USARA aims to raise public awareness for issues impacting Utahns who live with substance use disorders and/or mental illness, and to support current legislation that will increase access to medical care, treatment and recovery services. We invite all Utahns to join together in support of those who live with the challenges of addiction and mental illness and to celebrate the successes in their Recovery!”U.S.A.R.A Sponsors several events during the year in the state to provide awareness to the Community, as well as celebrate Recovery!

We also have a lot of polices in our Community looking to be addressed and change to help chance the social problem we have with the Opioid Epidemic in our community here are some things being addressed at our next Legislate Session. “Opioid Misuse Reviewed draft legislation "Opioid Prescribing Regulations," which would limit opioid prescriptions to a seven-day supply for certain patients and require a prescriber to check the controlled substance database for first-time opioid prescriptions. Received reports from the Department of Health and the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing on the implementation of bills to address opioid misuse that were passed during the 2016 General Session. This year, the Department of Health has provided funds to 17 law enforcement agencies, six local health departments, and nine other entities for the purchase of nearly 4,000 opiate overdose rescue kits (naloxone). Additionally, over the past 16 months Utah Naloxone has distributed 4,000 free kits. Action: Concluded that the issue of opioid misuse and abuse is significant, but that more time is needed to develop solutions and consensus.”Another amazing thing that has happen in Salt Lake City, That I got to participate in was Operation Diversion. This Operation was the County Mayor and several others in the Community that got together to decide to find a place to spend a large sum of money that was left over from other grants. The team that percolated on this decides to provide access to treatment for those in need.The City Police did several sweeps downtown in the Rio Grande Neighborhood, arresting doses of individuals. Those with warrants, and those arrested for selling drugs went to jail. The rest of the people got an opportunity to go to treatment. Both Odyssey House and First Step House open 30 beds each. Individual were taken to project reality, where they were give an assessment to determine if the needed medical detox. They would also determine their which treatment center would best fit them.This has been a super huge Project for people to be able to get off the streets and access Treatment. Normally there is a nine-month waiting list to get into treatment. This opportunity has helped people with Opiated and other drug addiction a chance for help.